Writing a blog about writing a book about old cowboy movies.

Howard & Theodore Lydecker

As part of the Republic Pictures 75th event, Bob Burns and George Lydecker will speak on the work of Howard and Theodore Lydecker, Republic’s incredible special effects team — and two of my all-time cinematic heroes.

From the fleet of planes, trains and rockets they built for the many Republic serials to their miniature work on Flying Tigers (1942), Flame Of Barbary Coast (1945), and what may be their masterpiece, The Great Train Robbery (1941), the Lydecker brothers gave Republic production values far beyond what Herbert J. Yates was actually spending on these things.

While looking for a picture of a Lydecker rocket or something to put on here, I came across a site dedicated to Howard’s terrific Los Angeles home, which thankfully has remained much as it was when he lived in it.

Like this:

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great stuff. I did a story on the Republic party that should be on the TW website soon, if not already–I’m giving some thought to going out there for it. I’d like to get next to Adrian Booth.

Thinking about her in the serials reminded me of Ruth Roman, who I ran across recently playing a good natured saloon mama in The Sacketts. It led me to a movie: “Love Has Many Faces” which is one of those campy Mad Men-era sex melodramas. Roman plays an earthy, rich Americano tourist in Acapulco who allows herself to be entertained by the unbelievably reptilian gigolo played by Hugh O’Brian (in a variety of tight swimming briefs). (O’Brian is part of the Republic festivities–he made a couple of Republic pictures early on). Lana Turner and Cliff Robertson are top billed.
Marguerite Roberts wrote this thing.

I know this could be said of so very many Hollywood actresses but since I was a 10 year old boy 60 years ago I have been magnetized by Ruth Roman…a beautiful woman with very, very much sex-appeal. I would watch about anything that features Ms. Roman.